Tenoroc next up for PHS

By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Poinciana Coach Cory Fleming had a message for his players Monday, three days after the Eagles’ dominating 47-0 win over Celebration snapped a 17-game losing streak: It, too, is history.

“We have to represent every week. One win isn’t going to impress anybody,” said Fleming, who leads PHS into a home game with Tenoroc on Friday at 7 p.m.

A win would mark Poinciana’s first two-game winning streak since 2000, their only playoff season.

“Yes, those are things we’ve drilled into the kids heads,” Fleming said. “We still have a lot of work to do, but it was nice to see the kids stand up after the Gateway game (a 20-12 loss) and prove themselves.

“It’s the biggest win we’ve had here. We wanted to make a statement, and a lot of our kids know their kids,” he said.

Senior Mike Cirino, who scored on Poinciana’s first play on a 40-yard toss sweep, scored two more touchdowns on punt returns. He had 177 return yards. Joey DeComo scored two touchdowns, quarterback Javonte Hursey ran one in on a sneak and freshman Devarius Turner scored and rushed for 126 yards on just six carries.

Fleming said the coaching staff adjusted personnel after the Gateway game, and found some blocking combinations that worked.

“We mixed things up and challenged some kids, and they responded,” he said. “We saw a a lot of improvement this week.”

On defense, Theron “Duke” Ellis had 13 tackles, and Josh Lopez intercepted a pass. Fleming said the push defensive linemen Dariusz Bladek, Mike Muzac and Cameron Alcime got was key to a winning performance.

“Up front we were dominant. Our line kept getting in their backfield, which opened the gaps for our linebackers,” he said.

It was the first head coaching victory for Fleming, 26, Central Florida’s youngest head coach.

“They gave me the game ball. Then they gave me the Gatorade bath,” he said. “I didn’t mind either one.”

Tenoroc (0-2) seeks its first win after losing, 48-6, to Lakeland last week.

The Titans are led on offense by junior quarterback Travis Tucker, who scored the Titans touchdown on an 80-yard run.

“They run that I-back stuff and he makes all the reads. He makes their plays, and he plays on defense, too,” Fleming said.

Fleming said that the teams match up well.

“They’ll be mad about the Lakeland game, and come at us licking their chops,” he said. “Our word of the week is ‘consistency.’ If we play well up front and we run like we did last week, we will compete.”